Card Number 253, Mrs. James Brown Potter, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-7) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Duke Cigarettes 1880s

This small card, printed by Duke Sons & Co, features an image of Mrs. James Brown Potter, an actress, created as a promotional item for Duke Cigarettes. It's a mass-produced object made through industrial printing processes, likely photolithography, allowing for detailed image reproduction at a low cost. The card's material, thin paper stock, reflects its disposable nature, meant to be collected or traded before being discarded. The photographic image links to both the world of celebrity and consumer culture, with the actress’s likeness enhancing the appeal of the tobacco product. The text boldly declares "Duke Cigarettes are the Best," directly tying her glamorous image to the brand. This piece reflects how mass production and advertising intertwine, blurring the lines between art, commerce, and everyday life. It underscores the democratization of imagery through industrial processes. By considering the card’s original context, we see how “high” and “low” culture were merged to create consumer desire.